Provenance

Bequeathed by the artist in 1816 to James White of Exeter (1744–1825), on whose death it passed to Towne’s residuary legatee John Herman Merivale (1779–1844) and his successors. Merivale’s granddaughters Maria Sophia Merivale (1853–1928) and Judith Ann Merivale (1860–1945), both of Oxford, inherited the drawing in May 1915 (BP13). On 5 March 1936 (May 1936 according to the Barton Place catalogue) Judith Merivale sold it to Agnew’s (no.1864) for £6 and on the same day they sold it to Oliver Quibell of Newark (1863–1945) for £9 9s., whereafter it is untraced.

Comment

This is one of five sketches Towne is known to have made on 22 May (along with FT270, FT272, FT273, FT274). Judging by its inscription as “An Evening Study”, it was the last of these to have been made.